The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-08-12
JESS.
SyH,RIpER HAceARp.
a&'T's'Qee selenseHsausss Skcus

buck with bullet through It,"
Accordingly the row passed over. and the
playful Jacobus-whom jess noted with sat.
isfaction was exceedingly sick and trembling
In every limb-was with difficulty hoisted on
to his horse, and proceeded ON his journey
with not single bit OF fun left in him.
A little while after this jess pointed out a
long, low hill that lay upon the fiat belt, a
dozen miles or so away, like stone ON a
stretch of sand
"Look," she said; "there is Mooifontein at
lastp
ave are not there yet," remarked John,
sadly.
Another weary half hour passed, and then
they suddenly, on passing over q crest, saw
Hans Coetzee's homestead lying down by the
water in the hollow. So that was where
they were being taken to.
Within hundred yards Of the house the
Beers halted and consulted, except Jacobus,
who went on, still looking very green. Finally
the elder man came to them and addressed
Jess at the same time handing her back the
pass "You can 60 on home," he said. 1.-THE
Englishman must stay with us till we find out
more about him."
"He says that can 60. What shall dor"
asked Jess II don't like leaving you with
these men,"
"Do2 why 20, of course. can look after
myself; and if can't, certainly you won't be
able to help me. Perhaps you will be able to
get some help at the farm. At any rate, yon
must co."
"Now, Englishman," said the Boer
"Good by, jess, said John "God bless you. I"
"Good by, JOHN" she answered, looking
him steadily in the eyes for a moment, and
then turning away to hide the tears which
would gather in her own.
And thus they parted.
She knew her way now, even across the
open veldt, for she dared not go by the road.
There was, however, a bride path that ran
over the hill at the back of the house, and for
this she shaped her course. 1t was o'clock
now, and both she and her horse were in a
condition of great exhaustion. which was en-
HANGED in her case by want of food and
trouble of mind But she was strong
woman and had will Of iron, and she held
on where most women would have died. Jess
meant to get to Mooifontein somehow, and
she knew that she would get there. If she
could only reach the place and get some help
sent to her lover, she did not greatly care
what happened to her afterward. The pace
Of the horse she was riding got slower and
slower. From the ambling canter into which
at first she managed occasionally to
force it, and which is the best pace to
travel in South Africa, it continually col
lapsed into a rough, short trot, which was
agony to her, riding as she was, and from
that into walk. Indeed, just before sunset,
or little after 6 o'clock, the walk became
final. At last they reached the rising ground
that stretched up the slope to the Mooifontein
hill, and here the poor beast fell down, ut
terly worn out. jess slipped off and tried to
drag it up, but failed. 1t had not yard of
go left in it. SO she did what she could, pull
ing off the bride and undoing the girth, SO
that the saddle would fall off if the horse ever
managed to rise. Then she set to work to
walk over the hill The poor horse watched
her go with melancholy eyes, knowing that it
was being deserted First it neighed, then,
with desperate effort, struggled to its feet
and ran after her hundred yards or SO, only
to fall down again at last. Jess turned and
saw it, and, exhausted as she was, she pos
itively ran to get away from the look in those
big eyes. That night there was cold rain,
in which the horse persisted, as "poor" horses
are apt to do
It was nearly dark when Jess at length
reached the top of the hill and looked down.
She knew the spot well, and from it she could
always see the light from the kitchen window
of the house. Tonight there was no light.
Wondering what it could mean, and feeling
fresh chill of doubt creep round her heart,
she scrambled OH down the hill. When she was
about half way down shower of sparks sud-
denly shot up into the air from the spot
where the house should be, caused by the fall
of piece of wall into the smouldering embers
beneath. Again jess paused, wondering and
aghast. What could have happened? De-
termined at all hazards to discover, she crept
on very cautiously. Before she had gone
another twenty yards, however, hand was
suddenly laid upon her arm. She turned
quickly, too paralyzed with fear to cry out,
and as she did SO voice that was familiar to
her whispered. "Missie jess, Missile Jess, is it
you?' into her ear II am Jantje"
She gave sigh of relief, and her heart,
which had stood still, began to move again.
Here was a friend at last.
II heard you coming down the hill, though
you came SO SOFTLY" he said; "but l could
not tell who it was. because you jumped from
rock to rock and did not walk as usual. But
thought it was q woman with boots; l
could not see, because the light all falls dead
against the hill, and the stars are not up. So
I got to the left of your path-for the wind is
blowing from the right-and waited till you
had passed, and winded you. Then l knew
who you were for certain-either you or
Missile Bessie; but Missile Bessie is shut up, so
it could not be her."
Bessie shut up!" calculated jess, not even
pausiAg to marvel at the doglike instinct that
enabled the Hottentot to identify her. "What
do you means"
"This way, missile; come this way and will
tell you;" and he led her to fantastic pile
of rocks in which it was his wild habit to
sleep. Jess knew the place well, and had
often peeped into, but never entered, the
Hottentot's kennel.
"Stop a bit, missile. I will go and
light a candle; 1 have some in there,
and they can't see the light from the
outside" and accordingly he vanished.
In few seconds he returned, and,
taking her by the sleeve, led her along a
winding passage between great powders, till
they came to a beehole in the rocks, through
which she could see the light shining. Going
down ON his hands and knees Jantje crept
through and Jess followed him. She found
herself in small apartment about six feet
'quare by eight high, principally formed by
he accidental falling together Of several big
powders and rooted in by one great natural
1oh or hat